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NCT Number: NCT03589326

A Study of Ponatinib Versus Imatinib in Adults With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

In this study, adults with newly-diagnosed Philadelphia Chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) will receive first-line therapy of ponatinib or imatinib.

The main aim of this study is to compare the number of participants on each treatment that show no signs of disease.

Participants will take tablets of either ponatinib or imatinib at the same time each day combined with reduced-intensity chemotherapy for up to 20 months. Then, they will continue with single-agent therapy (ponatinib or imatinib) until they meet the discontinuation criteria from the study.

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Ph+ALL)

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

Hospital Privado Centro Medico de Cordoba, Córdoba, Argentina

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About this study

The drug being tested in this study is called ponatinib. Ponatinib is being tested to treat people who have newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL. This study will look at the efficacy of ponatinib in participants in addition to standard care.

The study will enroll approximately 230 participants. Participants will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive oral ponatinib or imatinib (Cohort A and Cohort B, respectively) daily throughout the study.

All participants will be asked to take ponatinib or imatinib at the same time each day with reduced-intensity chemotherapy in induction phase (Cycles 1 to 3), consolidation phase (Cycles 4 to 9) and maintenance phase (Cycles 10 to 20). At the end of the 20 cycles, participants will remain on ponatinib or imatinib (administered as a single agent). The dose of ponatinib in consolidation and maintenance phase will start with the last dose given in the previous phase. The dose can be modified based on MRD-negative CR results.

This multi-center trial will be conducted in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, France, Mexico, Greece, Italy, Japan, Korea, Republic Of, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, Province Of China, Turkey, Finland and the United States. Participants including those who achieve a clinical response, may receive study drug until they are deceased, have failed to achieve the primary endpoint, have experienced relapse from CR or have progressive disease, have an unacceptable toxicity, have withdrawn consent, have proceeded to HSCT, or until the sponsor terminates the study, whichever occurs first. After disease progression, all participants will be contacted every 3 months for survival follow-up. Participants will be followed until completion of the study or until the participant's death has been reported.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) or BCR-ABL1-positive ALL, as defined by the 2017 national comprehensive cancer network (NCCN) guidelines.
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of <=2.

Exclusion criteria

  • With a history or current diagnosis of chronic phase, accelerated phase, or blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
  • Prior/current treatment with any systemic anticancer therapy (including but not limited to any tyrosine kinase inhibitor [TKI]) and/or radiotherapy for ALL, with the exception of an optional prephase therapy or chemotherapy induction (no more than 1 cycle), which should be discussed with the sponsor's medical monitor/designee.
  • Currently taking drugs that are known to have a risk of causing prolonged corrected QT (QTc) or torsades de pointes (TdP) (unless these can be changed to acceptable alternatives or discontinued).
  • Taking any medications or herbal supplements that are known to be strong inhibitors or strong inducers of cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 within at least 14 days before the first dose of study drug.
  • Uncontrolled active serious infection that could, in the investigator's opinion, potentially interfere with the completion of treatment according to this protocol.
  • Major surgery within 28 days before randomization (minor surgical procedures such as catheter placement or BM biopsy are not exclusionary criteria).
  • Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity, known active hepatitis B or C infection.
  • History of acute pancreatitis within 1 year of study screening or history of chronic pancreatitis.
  • Uncontrolled hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides >450 milligram per deciliter [mg/dL]).
  • Diagnosed and treated for another malignancy within 5 years before randomization or previously diagnosed with another malignancy and have any evidence of residual disease. Participants with nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of any type are not excluded if they have undergone complete resection.
  • History or presence of clinically relevant CNS pathology such as epilepsy, childhood or adult seizure, paresis, aphasia, stroke, severe brain injuries, dementia, Parkinson's disease, cerebellar disease, organic brain syndrome, or psychosis.
  • Clinical manifestations of CNS or extramedullary involvement with ALL other than lymphadenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly.
  • Autoimmune disease with potential CNS involvement.
  • Known significant neuropathy of Grade >=2 severity.
  • Clinically significant, uncontrolled, or active cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or peripheral vascular disease, or history of or active venous thrombotic/embolic event (VTE) disease.
  • Have a significant bleeding disorder unrelated to ALL.

Treatment and study plan

Ponatinib

Drug

Ponatinib Tablets.

Other names: Iclusig

Imatinib

Drug

Imatinib Tablets.

Other names: Gleevec

Vincristine

Drug

Vincristine IV injection.

Dexamethasone

Drug

Dexamethasone Tablets.

Cytarabine

Drug

Cytarabine IV infusion.

methotrexate

Drug

Methotrexate IV infusion.

Prednisone

Drug

Prednisone Tablets.

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants With Minimal Residual Disease (MRD)-Negative Complete Remission (CR) at The End of Induction Phase

    Time frame: From Cycle 1 through Cycle 3 (approximately 3 months) (Cycle length = 28 days)

    MRD-negative CR was achieved when a participant met the criteria for both MRD negativity and CR. MRD-negativity: ≤0.01 % breakpoint cluster region-Abelson (BCR-ABL1/ABL1), or undetectable BCR-ABL1 transcripts in complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) with ≥ 10,000 ABL1 transcripts. CR: meeting all the following for at least 4 weeks (that is no recurrence):1. No circulating blasts and less than (<) 5% blasts in the bone marrow (BM). 2. Normal maturation of all cellular components in the BM. 3. No extramedullary disease (central nervous system [CNS] involvement, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, skin/gum infiltration, testicular mass). 4. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 1000 per microliter (/mcL) (or >1.0*10^9/L). 5. Platelets >100,000/mcL (or >100*10^9/L).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Event-free Survival (EFS)

    Time frame: Baseline up to approximately 3 to 6 years

    EFS is defined as the dates of randomization until death due to any cause or failure to achieve CR by end of induction or relapse from CR. CR: meeting all the following for at least 4 weeks (that is no recurrence):1. No circulating blasts and less than (<) 5% blasts in the bone marrow (BM). 2. Normal maturation of all cellular components in the BM. 3. No extramedullary disease (central nervous system [CNS] involvement, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, skin/gum infiltration, testicular mass). 4. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than (>) 1000 per micro liter (/mcL) (or >1.0*10^9/L). 5. Platelets >100,000/mcL (or >100*10^9/L).Relapse from CR: reappearance of blasts in the blood or BM (>=5%) or in any extramedullary site after a CR.

  2. Percentage of Participants With CR and Incomplete Complete Remission (CRi)

    Time frame: End of Cycle 1 (approximately 1 month), Cycle 2 (approximately 2 months), Cycle 3 (approximately 3 months), and Cycle 9 (approximately 9 months) (Cycle length= 28 days)

    CR is defined as meeting all the following for at least 4 weeks (that is, no recurrence): 1. No circulating blasts and <5% blasts in the BM. 2. Normal maturation of all cellular components in the BM. 3. No extramedullary disease (CNS involvement, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, skin/gum infiltration, testicular mass). 4. ANC >1000/mcL (or >1.0*10^9/L). 5. Platelets >100,000/mcL (or >100*10^9/L). CRi is defined as hematologic complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery and meeting all criteria for CR except platelet count and/or ANC.

  3. Percentage of Participants With Molecular Response

    Time frame: End of Cycle 1 (approximately 1 month), Cycle 2 (approximately 2 months), Cycle 3 (approximately 3 months), and Cycle 9 (approximately 9 months) (Cycle length= 28 days)

    Molecule response is assessed by 3-Log Reduction (MR3), Molecular Response 4-Log Reduction (MR4) and Molecular Response 4.5-Log Reduction (MR4.5). MR3 is defined as molecular response 3-log reduction (<=0.1% BCR-ABL1/ABL1), or undetectable BCR-ABL1 transcripts in cDNA with >=1000 ABL1 transcripts. MR4 is defined as molecular response 4-log reduction (<=0.01% BCR-ABL1/ABL1), or undetectable BCR-ABL1 transcripts in cDNA with >=10,000 ABL1 transcripts. MR4.5 is defined as Molecular response 4.5-log reduction (<=0.0032% BCR-ABL1/ABL1), or undetectable BCR-ABL1 transcripts in cDNA with >=32,000 ABL1 transcripts.

  4. Percentage of Participants With Primary Induction Failure (PIF)

    Time frame: Up to 3 months

    PIF is defined as participants who received treatment for ALL but never achieved CR or CRi by the end of induction. PIF is not limited by the number of unsuccessful treatments; this disease status only applies to recipients who have never been in CR or CRi. CR is defined as meeting all the following for at least 4 weeks (that is no recurrence): 1. No circulating blasts and <5% blasts in the BM. 2. Normal maturation of all cellular components in the BM. 3. No extramedullary disease (CNS involvement, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, skin/gum infiltration, testicular mass). 4. ANC >1000/mcL (or >1.0*10^9/L). 5. Platelets >100,000/mcL (or >100*10^9/L). CRi is defined as hematologic complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery and meeting all criteria for CR except platelet count and/or ANC.

  5. Percentage of Participants With Overall Response Rate (ORR)

    Time frame: Up to 3 months

    ORR is defined as CR + CRi by end of induction. CR is defined as meeting all the following for at least 4 weeks (that is no recurrence): 1. No circulating blasts and <5% blasts in the BM. 2. Normal maturation of all cellular components in the BM. 3. No extramedullary disease (CNS involvement, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, skin/gum infiltration, testicular mass). 4. ANC >1000/mcL (or >1.0*10^9/L). 5. Platelets >100,000/mcL (or >100*10^9/L). CRi is defined as hematologic complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery and meeting all criteria for CR except platelet count and/or ANC.

  6. Percentage of MRD-Negative CR

    Time frame: Up to approximately 3 to 6 years

    MRD is defined as the percentage of participants achieving CR who are MRD-negative at multiple intervals after end of induction. MRD negativity: <=0.01% BCR-ABL1/ABL1, or undetectable BCR-ABL1 transcripts in cDNA with >=10,000 ABL1 transcripts. Relapse from CR: Reappearance of blasts in the blood or BM (>=5%) or in any extramedullary site after a CR.

  7. Duration of MRD-Negative CR

    Time frame: Up to approximately 3 to 6 years

    Duration of MRD-negative CR is defined as interval between the first assessment at which the criteria for MRD-negative CR are met until the earliest date at which loss of MRD negativity or relapse from CR occurs. MRD negativity (MR4): <=0.01% BCR-ABL1/ABL1, or undetectable BCR-ABL1 transcripts in cDNA with >=10,000 ABL1 transcripts. CR is defined as meeting all the following for at least 4 weeks (that is, no recurrence): 1. No circulating blasts and <5% blasts in the BM. 2. Normal maturation of all cellular components in the BM. 3. No extramedullary disease (CNS involvement, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, skin/gum infiltration, testicular mass). 4. ANC >1000/mcL (or >1.0*10^9/L). 5. Platelets >100,000/mcL (or >100*10^9/L). Relapse from CR: Reappearance of blasts in the blood or BM (>=5%) or in any extramedullary site after a CR.

  8. Duration of CR

    Time frame: Up to approximately 3 to 6 years

    Duration of CR is defined as interval between the first assessment at which the criteria for CR are met until the earliest date at which relapse from CR occurs. CR is defined as meeting all the following for at least 4 weeks (that is no recurrence): 1. No circulating blasts and <5% blasts in the BM. 2. Normal maturation of all cellular components in the BM. 3. No extramedullary disease (CNS involvement, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, skin/gum infiltration, testicular mass). 4. ANC >1000/mcL (or >1.0*10^9/L). 5. Platelets >100,000/mcL (or >100*10^9/L). Relapse from CR: Reappearance of blasts in the blood or BM (>=5%) or in any extramedullary site after a CR.

  9. Time to Treatment Failure

    Time frame: Up to approximately 6 years

    Time to treatment failure is defined as time to end of study randomized treatment (except for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation [HSCT] without loss of MRD-negative CR) due to safety and efficacy reasons. MRD-negative CR is achieved when a participant meets the criteria for both MRD negativity and CR. MRD-negativity: <=0.01% BCR-ABL1/ABL1, or undetectable BCR-ABL1 transcripts in cDNA with >=10,000 ABL1 transcripts. CR: meeting all the following for at least 4 weeks (that is no recurrence):1. No circulating blasts and <5% blasts in the BM. 2. Normal maturation of all cellular components in the BM. 3. No extramedullary disease (CNS involvement, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, skin/gum infiltration, testicular mass). 4. ANC >1000/mcL (or >1.0*10^9/L). 5. Platelets >100,000/mcL (or >100*10^9/L).

  10. Duration of MR4.5

    Time frame: Up to approximately 3 to 6 years

    Duration of MR4.5 is defined as interval between the first assessment at which the criteria for MR4.5 are met until the earliest date at which loss of MR4.5 occurs. MR4.5 is molecular response 4.5-log reduction (<=0.0032% BCR-ABL1/ABL1), or undetectable BCR-ABL1 transcripts in cDNA with >=32,000 ABL1 transcripts.

  11. Percentage of On-Study Participants With Overall Survival (OS)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 3 to 6 years

    On-study participants with or without HSCT will be evaluated. OS is defined as interval between randomization and death due to any cause, censored at the last contact date when the participant was alive.

  12. Percentage of On-Study Participants With Relapse From CR

    Time frame: Up to approximately 3 to 6 years

    On-study participants with or without HSCT will be evaluated. Relapse from CR is defined as reappearance of blasts in the blood or BM (>=5%) or in any extramedullary site after a CR.

  13. Overall Survival (OS)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 3 to 6 years

    OS is defined as interval between the randomization and death due to any cause, censored at the last contact date when the participant was alive.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Takeda

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Phase 3, Randomized, Open-label, Multicenter Study Comparing Ponatinib Versus Imatinib, Administered in Combination With Reduced-Intensity Chemotherapy, in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Ph+ ALL)

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jul 17, 2018
Registry last updated
Nov 26, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.